Building inclusive, functional and productive cities is perhaps the biggest challenge facing their inhabitants today and there are no easy solutions. A key piece of the puzzle, however, is the very heart of urban areas: its public spaces.
Public space is a vital element of a thriving city. Well-designed and managed public spaces are an important element for its functioning and have a positive impact on the economy, health, climate, security, integration and connectivity of the urban environment. The quality of life of people in cities is directly linked to the condition of public spaces.
What is placemaking,we will tell you in different articles and videos because we believe in the future of the city as a living, evolving and breathing organism.
In general, we can say that these are activities that could improve the quality of life and increase the potential of the place we share. The most important element here is civil society, which gives impetus to these activities. Think of those monthly house council meetings that carry such a negative charge that most of us avoid, even at the cost of hiding in the back garden of the block, which in turn has not been cleaned for years. A beautiful, comfortable and new space for these meetings, built with joint effort, planning and resources, would increase productivity and give a new character to outdated practices of joint decision-making. Undoubtedly, the most important thing in placemaking is the citizens' self-participation in the construction of the social space - with the aim of sustainability and responsibility for its preservation.
Here are a few ways you can help strengthen the social fabric of your community and jump-start economic development by creating and maintaining sustainable public spaces.
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Turn streets into open spaces
Placemaking is based on a simple principle: if you plan cities for cars and traffic, you will get cars and traffic. If you plan for people and activities, you get people and activities. More traffic and more road capacity are not the inevitable results of growth. They are the product of deliberate planning done to shape our communities to accommodate the private automobile. We have the opportunity to make different choices - for example, we can start with the decision to design our streets as comfortable and safe places for everyone - pedestrians and cyclists as well as drivers.
Turn plazas and gardens into multifunctional spaces
Urban parks and gardens are the city's safety valve, where those living in dense urban areas can breathe and find opportunities for a leisurely stroll or entertainment. Whereas a poorly planned or unmaintained park can be a place we fear more. A well-developed plaza or garden is a source of pride and can help citizens feel more connected to their surroundings.
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Start with small experiments
Public spaces are complex, organic elements of a city. You can't expect to get everything right initially. The best spaces evolve through experimentation with short-term improvements that can be tested and finalized over many years. A seating area, sidewalk café, community event, garden, and painted crosswalks are examples of easy, quick, inexpensive changes that harness the creative energy of the community to effectively generate new uses and revenue for places in transition. If one thing doesn't work, try something else. If you have success, build it.
And while the general public in this country is used to seeing these shared spaces as something the government takes care of, one project has decided to stir the spirits and start the first large-scale placemaking in Bulgaria.
In 2017, The Spot/_Place enabled 10 municipalities in Bulgaria to participate in the construction of social spaces attractive to young people, combining opportunities for outdoor sports, places for socialising and the possibility of cultural formal and informal events.
These types of projects are not only aimed at improving the urban environment and increasing investment, but also at building and sustaining partnerships between the municipality, the NGO sector and citizens and actively involving and enabling young people.
Putting our collective efforts into the places we live is important for everyone. If you have no idea how to get started - follow our feature here, where we will show you different urban trends and how to improve the environment in your neighbourhoods, and our experts will tell you about best practices around the world that will inspire you to start your relationship with your home council anew.